New Faces Friday: Patrick Brennan

Posted by unintendedchoice on August 31st, 2012

Dear Patrick Brennan (Can we call you Pat?)

We got a chance to phone chat with you recently for the Twilight fansite feature: New Faces Friday and we learned that you, like your character Liam, are Irish and LOVE your Irish heritage. So before we get to the interview, here are (Lucky #7!)

7 Things we learned about Pat

You could have been an extra in The Town (because of the way you sound & look)

You’re CUTE adding to the list of drool-worthy Twilight cast members.

You are, in fact, NOT from Boston and are not an Irish thug (although we wondered after hearing you talk…)

You just had a baby daughter (We hope she doesn’t have super powers and grow extrodinarily fast and is named Nessie. Or falls in love with a werewolf. unless you’re into that sort of thing)

You did not participate in wardrobe theft on the Breaking Dawn set (clearly someone didn’t get to know Rob Pattinson well enough)

You forgot Taylor Lautner’s name because twice in the interview you said something along the lines of “Those 3– Robert Kristen and… those 3″ and finally said “Jacob” It’s okay. We call him Jacob too.

(We learned this one from imdb) Some of your family members were/are movie stars. And we’re pretty sure your grandmother was a big movie star back in the day!

Interview with Patrick Brennan after the jump!

You’re one of the new vampires who has gotten a chance to interact with the fans at some Twilight conventions. Can you talk a little bit about what your experience has been with the Twilight fans so far?

Sure yeah. It’s been absolutely amazing. When I got involved in Twilight I knew it was a big deal, but I didn’t realize how big of a deal it was. And then you get to these conventions & you see these people who have formed a community, and they all support one another and are there for one another. And the way they support us– it’s almost a little— it’s a little crazy at first. But the way they support you and show you so much love it’s a great thing. I’m always humbled by it, and not to be corny or anything but I’m really touched by it.

When you found out you were going to work on this movie, who were you most excited to work with?

You know I have a scene with all the guys- Robert Pattinson – the 3 of those guys- and Kristen- I found them to be so… I was looking forward to meeting those three – I found them to be so welcoming and down to earth and normal. I don’t know what I was expecting but I wasn’t expecting that. I found them all to be really really great people. And funny and weird and cool. And when I did my scene with Jacob I was stumbling over lines and thought “wow—it’s too odd. I’m sitting across from these Twilight stars.” It took me awhile to get in my body & get in the scenes. I was nervous. And Michael Sheen- I’ve always admired him as an actor. And I didn’t get to do much with him, but I got to know him a little bit on set. I’ve always admired his work as an actor.

Your character is steeped in the history of Ireland and I was wondering if you brought any of that heritage to bear on how your portrayed the character?

I’m Irish. I come from Irish ancestors and my wife is from a section in Manhattan called Hells Kitchen which is all Irish. I have a lot of good friends that live in that area. So I find the Irish are my favorite kind of people. They’re a little crazy — have lived some tragic lives, but they still have their humor and they’re as tough as nails. They might drink a little too much, but that Irish thing runs pretty deep in me. I’m an Irishman myself. I have a clover tattooed on my arm. I’ve always had a connection to Irish people, ya know? When I was out at the convention in England I got to go to Dublin for the first time and hang out in the pubs and talk with the locals. It was a great experience. I had never been to Ireland before. And I got to sip some Guinness and sing some songs with REAL Irishman.

Do you have any fun stories you can share from filming? We love to hear stuff that you did on your off time!

Actors together are like overgrown children. We did a lot of silly little pranks on set. But we all as a group bonded instantly and we’d take trips into New Orleans every chance we could and enjoy the jazz- that was fun.

Who were you hanging out with?

Well Billy Tancredi and I became really close friends. Billy is actually the Godfather of my newborn daughter. We became really close. Rami Malek & I became close. Omar Metwally is a good friend. I met a lot of good people. That was my crew: Omar, Rami and Billy.

What was it like coming into such an established franchise. Did you feel like the new kid? What were your feelings joining everyone?

Well i was nervous- extremely nervous. Like I said Bill Condon and all those people and the guys that have been there through the whole thing- Robert and all those guys- they did have a way of putting you at ease. And I found them to be so normal. Maybe I was expecting them to be movie stars who were stand-offish, but they weren’t like that. I knew it was a big deal, but once you go to the conventions and see how big it is, it is pretty awesome.

I was just nervous. I did my scene the 2nd night there. And Bill [Condon] had to just calm me down. It was the biggest thing I’ve never been involved in- my big break, so I was extremely nervous. The people were so great from top to bottom- Bill Condon- I can’t say enough about him! What a decent, kind, artistic, gentle cool dude. He has a way of making you feel real involved- makes you feel like you mattered. He helped me with my nerves.

Tell us what you are taking away from being part of the last film and this fandom

That’s kind of deep! When this job came along I was really kind of at a low point in my life. [I was] really struggling as an actor & supporting myself and [my family]. And this job came along and I have nothing but gratitude for it. It just really saved my life- and I don’t know how to really put it. It’s given me confidence & self esteem and helped me make some strides in the business and I have nothing but gratitude for the whole thing. I feel very lucky, and I’m sure there were hundreds of people who came out to play Liam and it’s very humbling and I feel lucky. I feel lucky.

What were some of the things you did to bond with the other cast members on set?

You know it’s weird. you think there would be a couple people here and there you don’t get along with, but when you’re staying at the same hotel and you’re kinda on top of one another working all day, together you form all these great friendships and there was not one bad seed in the whole bunch. I think the people out there are gonna really love this new group of vampires. They are really good people. And it was kinda interesting- we got to the hotel and had dinner and I think we all really liked each other which is important because sometimes we’d spend sometimes 15 hours together on set and it was pretty instant! We really liked each other and spent time together outside of– even when we weren’t working- nobody holed up in their room. We all got together and did things together because we all genuinely liked each other. That was the cool thing. It was a great experience. People were so great!

What did you think of your costume and who else’s costume really surprised you when you first saw them in it?

I loved my costume. I’m kinda a t-shirt and jeans kind of guy. I don’t pay attention to what I wear. I never looked so cool in my life. I really haven’t! I had the Irish thing going, but it was a hip Irish thing. I can honestly say I looked pretty darn cool.

Guri Weinberg and Noel Fisher had some pretty outrageous costumes and they had to get into them every day. They didn’t look too comfortable. They looked amazing, but… I just had a tweed jacket and vest, gloves with the fingers cut off- a great hat. You put that on & put those eyes on, and it’s not hard to pretend you’re an Irishman! I tried to steal them but it didn’t work out.

Could you tell us a little bit about the dance off that we’re hearing about- the thing everyone put together to surprise Bill Condon?

I’m not sure who came up with it- it might have been Mia Maestro, but I said to myself “we’re not going to be able to pull this one off” because we met just once before and got the whole routine down. And I thought- I don’t know- this might fail miserably, but it was one of those natural things that when it happened it came together so beautifully. It was one of the real highlights for me. It was a lot of fun.

Hm, I’ve always loved Ireland and would like to spend more time there, but I guess I could just spend some time with THIS guy instead! Hey, Patrick, since you’re about to make it big, how about we get together and do a little bonding before you become this movie star who won’t bother with the fans? *wink wink* I have some Samuel Adams right here for you!
On another note: InTouch Magazine now informs me that Kristen is being “given the cold shoulder”. I wonder by whom? Cathy the Cougar? Daughters of the American Revolution? The PTA? Whose shoulders are they? Please tell me, I’m intrigued!